Beyond Borders

Written by Kelsie Bryant The recreational use of peyote has created a reserved reputation of the drug, especially when it comes to the interest of psychedelics. However, first use of it was noted in Mexico by the Spanish and in the Basin area by the European colonizers. The historical viewpoint of peyote from the colonizers is very negative, believing it to be a gateway to hell. However, many tribes like the Navajo see the use of peyote as a religiously significant experience. Today, the Native American Church reserves its’ right for its’ members to use peyote under the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. For many generations, the Navajo and surrounding Peyote religion tribes fought the United States government to reserve the right to use peyote for religious purposes. However, due to colonizer views, it wasn’t until this act that allowed native tribes of the Peyote religion to use it without persecution. While it still preserves its’ religious significance and purpose t

Written by Samantha Riley A Chaco Kiva. Chaco Culture National Historical Park is located in San Juan County and McKinley County, New Mexico. The park is known for having one of the densest concentrations of Pueblo Native Americans in the American Southwest. The location historically was a major center of Pueblo culture and was used for trade, and political and ceremonial activities. The Pueblo people built a number of structures in the hub. Many of the stone structures still stand today, and many ancient artifacts of the Pueblo people remain.   The park and its outskirts, with their historical and cultural significance, are sacred sites to many Native Americans in the Southwest. The significance of the land is hard to communicate to non-Native parties, because theirs stories of the land are sacred knowledge and are not to be shared with people outside of the tribal communities. Now, the sacred sites near Chaco Canyon are in danger of being destroyed. Companies have re

  Written by Noah Grider For this weeks blog discussion post I decided to pick a topic that involved the rights and protections of native american children and families. The Indian and Child Welfare Act of 1978 was set in place to help place native american children into foster homes while not breaking them up with there tribal communities and reservations. In a news report that I found on stateline.com, this passed measure through congress could possibly be heading to the supreme court, as they are saying it is discriminatory and was meant to assimilate natives into "white culture". The goal of this overturning rule would incorporate native children in families that are non-native or tribunal, as what I have read. I find this extremely interesting because it is trying to bring about more diversity and assimilation into the new age of the United States. Hundreds of members from reservations and tribes strongly appose the law suit taking place. One Native American who

  Written by Jay'Mee Proctor   " Of all the environmental impacts of the study projections, deforestation probably poses the most serious problems for the world, particularly for the developing world. It has been predicted that within the next 25-30 years, most of the humid tropical forest as we know it, will be transformed into unproductive land, and the deterioration of the savannah into desert will continue at ever-increasing speed." –Global (2000) & Cultural Survival Mag., (1982).   Source: https://sites.google.com/a/owu.edu/deforestation/home/deforestation-in-north-america Source: https://themiraclemachine.net/2017/08/15/water-issues-and-deforestation-in-the-us-and-abroad/           Deforestation is not only an epidemic that is swarming the United States. But globally impacting nature for the worst. Rivers, lakes, oceans are drying out, the forests around the world are dwindling to patches, animals are going extinct left an

Written by Jocelyn Paul Image credit to James Quigg http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/6/12/native-knowledge-used-to-combat-calif-drought.html We are just starting out wildfire season for California. A new study published in the Proceeding of National Academy of Sciences analyzed the historical relationship between wet winters and California’s extreme wildfires. The study analyzed the past 400 years; from 1600 to 1903 the two rarely overlapped. During this time, the study found, that lots of rain between December and February meant that California had a rather low-key wildfire season. However, after 1903 that relationship starts to dwindle, and by 1977 its all but gone. Researchers are now starting to point the finger at the federal fire suppression policies and the removal of Native Americans from their lands (Funes) . And while California is preparing the massive amounts of potential danger, Native communities are looking to how they can protect them

  Written by Soh Wah     I pick the Navajo peoples and the health issue that they are facing in their community. The health issue is the biggest problems for them and they are living everywhere in America. “The reservation, the largest in the country, is a 27,000-square-mile swath of high plains and desert in New Mexico, southern Utah and Arizona — an area as large as the state of West of Virginia. It is home to roughly 250,000 residents” (Linn). I find the Navajo people that locate in New Mexico and the articles that I read and research that I find are telling me how much these people have to go through in the past and they are still struggling today. The health problem that they are facing are starting a long time ago, but they are working hard to survive in their life. The health problem is not the only one, but also losing land and places that they love are involving too.             This issue impact on their culture and society because first they are losing the

Written by Kara Teipen (Kachinas that are viewed at divine spirits) That is the question that thousands of Native American’s and Indigenous people living in America ask themselves every day. This nation state that we live in is supposed to be the place on this planet where anyone from any culture, race, and religion can live in peace and freedom. Native Hope believes that the Native American and Indigenous cultures are “often overlooked and neglected.” (Native Hope) This is baffling because these cultures predate the modern American culture literally by thousands of years. These people and their traditions have been on this continent far longer than Europeans have, but yet they have no respect from our governments or corporations.             In high school, we are all taught the stories about the ‘Trail of Tears’ and how the United States government took advantage of these peoples lands and homes. If you think about it, that’s all that we were taught. The conversa

Written by Natalie Smith Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiKyPmY35nhAhVI04MKHfT-CeMQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.elsevier.com%2Fconnect%2Fsmoking-and-smoking-related-health-outcomes-high-in-public-housing&psig=AOvVaw04N0icnlR3Hs3N42A9O_8A&ust=1553481270908011 Cancer is a disease that does not discriminate and can affect everyone. However, cancer rates are noticeably higher in Native American communities. There are several reasons as to why Native American communities have higher rates of cancer, including risk factors and lack of access to prevention and care. Some of the health risks that can cause cancer are “ Tobacco abuse (smoking and chewing) and cigarette smoke exposure, alcohol abuse, diets high in animal fats and low in fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables, lack of regular physical activity, obesity, diabetes, and family genes that increase cancer risk” (American Indian Cancer Fac

  Written by Chelsea North Trump standing beside Kid Rock prior to signing the Music Modernization Act. Image Credits:  SAUL LOEB https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/business/8479469/music-business-reactions-music-modernisation-act-law-signing Native Americans have a rich culture of music, ceremonies, rituals, and a great connection with their land and their culture. Since the colonization of America, Native people have had both their land and their overall culture exploited. Native Americans have been left feeling lost without the ability to properly practice their cultural and religious beliefs effectively. The most common conversation today is about the ownership and destruction of Native American’s land through governmental regulations and laws allowing many companies to exploit their land, stripping it of all its resources. This exploitation of the native peoples land effects their cultural and religious practices, and in some cases destroys not only t